Bali: Scuba, Culture and Adventure

How do flights work?

Everyone meets the group at Denpasar (DPS). Students book their own flights, arrive within the published arrival window, and are met at the airport by Program Leaders. Rustic Pathways students travel to Bali from all over the world, and no route is the standard one.

Coming from the United States there is no nonstop, so expect one or two connections through an Asian hub and roughly 22 to 28 hours in transit. That is why the itinerary shows departure on Day 1 and arrival on Day 3. Coming home you cross the date line the other way and land the same calendar day you leave Bali. From Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong or the Gulf the trip is far shorter and often nonstop.

International airfare is not included in program tuition. After enrollment, our Personal Travel Advisors can help with booking and logistics wherever you are flying from.

What's included in the price?

Included: All lodging including the village stay, all meals, the PADI Discover Scuba pool session and two guided dives, all activities, entrance fees and donations, in-country transport and airport transfers, English-speaking local guides, 24/7 staff support.
Not included: International airfare, travel insurance, personal spending money ($150 to $200 per week).

Do you offer financial aid or scholarships?

Yes. Monthly payment plans are open to every family, and Rustic Pathways offers both need-based financial aid and merit scholarships. Explore scholarships and financial aid.

Is travel insurance required?

Travel insurance is not included in the program fee and is not required, but Rustic Pathways recommends it. Medical insurance with overseas cover is required. Those are two different products and families often buy only the second.

What is the enrollment fee?

A one-time enrollment fee is charged when you enroll, separate from the program tuition. It covers enrollment processing, pre-departure advising and trip planning.

The fee is non-refundable after the first 24 hours.

What if my family has an emergency and we have to cancel?

Some things are outside anyone’s control. If your family faces a serious documented emergency, contact us. We review these individually and will do what we reasonably can.

Separately, the published refund schedule for summer programs is:

Within 24 hours of enrolling: everything you have paid is refunded.
Up to 31 March: the program price is refunded, less the non-refundable enrollment fee and any airfare already booked.
1 to 30 April: the same, less a further 50% of the total program price.
From 1 May: no refund.

31 March is the date that matters most. Up to it you can cancel and lose only the enrollment fee and any airfare. Read the full terms.

Who's supervising my child?

Rustic Pathways Program Leaders complete a four-month vetting process, and programs maintain a median of one staff member per 4.37 students (4.37:1), with no program exceeding 7 students per staff member (7:1). All Program Leaders hold current CPR and First Aid certification, and every program includes at least one leader with 3 or more years of field experience. Program Leaders range in age from 22 to 45.

Program Leaders travel with the group throughout, alongside the Adventure Indonesia team and English-speaking local guides. Diving is supervised separately by PADI instructors, who set the ratio in the water.

Are rooms gender-separated?

Yes. Students room with same-gender peers and staff stay in adjacent rooms. At Rumah Desa in Tabanan the sleeping areas are simpler than a hotel and are also separated by gender.

What about medical emergencies?

Denpasar has international-standard hospitals, including BIMC and Siloam, roughly 30 minutes from Sanur and under two hours from Ubud. All Program Leaders hold current CPR and First Aid certification and the nearest clinic and hospital are mapped for every location, including the village night in Tabanan and the Mount Batur climb.

Diving carries its own medical screening, so tell us early if a medical condition might affect diving.

Can I reach my child?

Mostly yes. Mobile coverage in Sanur and Ubud is good and hotels have Wi-Fi. Expect it to be patchy for the village night at Rumah Desa and on Mount Batur before dawn, which are the two points where a student may not answer for a while. Parents can reach the Rustic Pathways 24/7 emergency line at any time.

How will I know they're okay?

Program Leaders post daily photo updates. Note the time difference: Bali is 12 hours ahead of US eastern time, so the day’s photos usually land overnight for you.

What is the phone/device policy?

Students keep their phones and we do not confiscate them. We ask that they stay away during activities, lessons and shared meals, and students are welcome to take photos. Outside those moments they can contact home as often as they like.

Phones do not come on the dives. A waterproof case is worth having for the boat rather than the water.

How big is the group and how old are the participants?

This program is capped at 22 students, ages 14 to 18. Rustic Pathways publishes a median of one staff member per 4.37 students (4.37:1) and no program exceeds 7 students per staff member (7:1).

Diving runs in smaller sub-groups, where the PADI instructor sets the ratio in the water rather than us.

Can international (non-U.S.) students join this program?

Yes. Rustic Pathways programs are open to students worldwide, with participants from 53 countries. Students travelling from outside the United States book their own flights to Denpasar (DPS), arrive within the published window, and are met there by Program Leaders. Visa requirements vary by passport, so contact a travel advisor for guidance.

Do students come with friends, or on their own?

Most come alone and do not know anyone. Learning to dive on the same day tends to collapse the introductions quickly. Friends are welcome to enroll together.

What is the accommodation like?

Hotels in Sanur and Ubud, and one night at Rumah Desa in Tabanan, a working Balinese house compound rather than a hotel. The village night is the simplest accommodation on the program and the part most students end up talking about.

Can friends room together?

Yes, in Sanur and Ubud, with same-gender peers. Roommate requests are taken at enrollment. At Rumah Desa the sleeping arrangement is the compound’s, separated by gender, and not a room allocation we make.

Can the program itinerary change?

This itinerary is what we intend to deliver and we work hard to deliver it. Programs run in real conditions, so activities can move for weather, health and safety, transport, site availability or local circumstances.

If plans change, the team adjusts the schedule around student safety and the purpose of the program. We will tell you what changed and why.

Will my child have unsupervised time?

Some, in small blocks around Sanur and Ubud with Program Leaders nearby and a meeting point set. The diving, the village stay and the Mount Batur climb are supervised throughout. There is no unsupervised time in the water and students are never alone with a single adult.

Can you accommodate dietary needs & food allergies?

Vegetarian and vegan are easy in Bali; much of Balinese cooking is already plant-based. Needs are collected at enrollment and shared with hotels and the village family.

Two honest caveats: shrimp paste (terasi) and peanuts are common in Indonesian cooking, and the village meal is cooked by a host family in a home kitchen rather than a commercial one. Serious nut or shellfish allergies need to be flagged early so the family can plan a separate dish.

How much spending money?

$150 to $200 per week is recommended for souvenirs and incidentals. Tipping is included in the program fee. Indonesian rupiah is the local currency and cards are accepted in Sanur and Ubud but not in the village.

Do we need a visa?

US citizens need a visa on arrival for Indonesia, bought at Denpasar or online beforehand. Passports must have at least six months validity. Requirements vary by passport, so contact a Rustic Pathways travel advisor.

What if my child gets homesick?

Homesickness usually lands in the first few days, and the long transit does not help: students arrive on Day 3 having crossed the date line. Program Leaders expect it and check in daily. Read how we handle homesickness.

Do you support neurodiverse students?

Rustic Pathways welcomes all students and works with families ahead of departure to plan the support a student needs. Tell us early rather than at the airport, so Program Leaders arrive already knowing. Read about our approach to inclusion.